MANSFIELD — Two singers found a taste for Mansfield following the August performance of La Boheme by Mid Ohio Opera.
“Two singers from Virginia, fell in love with Phoenix Brewery,” said Joel Vega, Mid Ohio’s artistic director. “They said, ‘Hey, if you come and do some shows at Phoenix, we’ll come up and do some shows for free.'”
Vega said that made the decision easier to create a second edition of Hopera — a potpourri of opera’s greatest hits and beer.
“We’re performing everything from Mozart to Verde,” Vega said.
Hopera II will take place, Monday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m at the brewery. The Phoenix is located at 131 N. Diamond Street.
“We’re pairing the art of brewing with the art of classical music making,” Vega said.
The show will be a private event. Tickets are $23 and will include a pint of beer and snacks. Tickets can be found on Mid Ohio Opera’s Facebook page, website and on Eventbrite.
The following Thursday, Mid Ohio Opera will be back on stage at the Blueberry Patch’s 1285 Winery, locate at 1285 Lexington Road with featured musicians beginning at 7 p.m.
“That’s just a little more informal. It’s during business hours so no tickets will be sold for that,” Vega said. “We’re calling that Opera: Uncorked.”
Both shows will be fundraisers to help support the coming season, said Michelle Failor, spokeswoman for Mid Ohio Opera.
One opera will tour four cities.
“Those are pretty exciting, but they are expensive,” Failor said. “You have to pay the artists, for costumes, lighting — all that. This is our way of supporting that and bringing more culture to the area.
“There’s been a surge of amazing culture and music especially. We just want to be part of that.”
